Modular toy

ABSTRACT

A modular toy which can be used to form toy parking garages, service stations and the like for playing with toy vehicles. The toy comprises a plurality of flat solid panels, each having a top support surface and a plurality of apertures formed therethrough about is periphery, and separate columns which can be seated in the apertures to support the panels above a base surface and above each other in a stacked relationship. Each panel further has an enlarged opening therethrough and means for retaining a ramp at one edge of the opening, the ramp extending downwardly from the opening toward a lower surface. Thus, a child can erect a multi-leveled structure with a ramp extending from one level to the next in the manner of a parking garage.

United States Patent 51 Apr. 4, 1972 Goldfarb 1 MODULAR TOY [72] Inventor: Adolph E. Goldlarb, 4614 Monarca Drive,

Tarzana, Calif. 91356 [22] Filed: Feb. 25, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 118,781

[52] US. Cl ..46/l7, 46/12, 46/202 [51] ..A63h 33/06 [58] Field ofSearch ..46/1,17,16,201,202,12

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,817,924 12/1957 Schrader ..46/l7 X Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-D. L. Weinhold Att0rney-Sokolski & Wohlgemuth and Robert M. Ashen [57] ABSTRACT A modular toy which can be used to form toy parking garages, service stations and the like for playing with toy vehicles. The toy comprises a plurality of flat solid panels, each having a top support surface and a plurality of apertures formed therethrough about is periphery, and separate columns which can be seated in the apertures to support the panels above a base surface and above each other in a stacked relationship. Each panel further has an enlarged opening therethrough and means for retaining a ramp at one edge of the opening, the ramp extending downwardly from the opening toward a lower surface. Thus, a child can erect a multi-leveled structure with a ramp extending from one level to the next in the manner of a parking garage.

16 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 4 m2 SHEET 1 6? FIG. 6

INVENTOR ADOLPH E. GOLDFARB ROBERT M. ASHEN FIG. 6A

FIG. 5A

ATTORN EY PATENTEDAFR 4 1972 SHEET 2 UF 2 INVENTOR ADOLPH E. GOLDFARB ROBERT M. ASH EN ATTORNEY MODULAR TOY It is well known that young children are fascinated with toy cars, trucks and the like. In playing with these items, a child's interest can be increased by providing structures to be associated with the cars or other vehicles. In the past there have been prefabricated units such as garages and the like that have been used in association with toy vehicles. Additionally, there have been many such items that required assembly prior to use by the child. In other words, the walls of the structure were delivered disassembled and the child or parent assembled the item. Such prior structures have at times been quite complex and even involved ramps and other features incident to garages, service stations and the like. Such toys, though, have usually been predesigned to a fixed configuration and a child had no leeway in designing his own station or garage but merely was left to fabricate the item in accord with the pre-conceived or designed plan. In other areas, however, there have been many toys where the child has had leeway to construct through the use of modulator units, various building structures and the like. Such prior modular units, however, have not readily lent themselves to the formation of structures that were particularly meaningful or useful for a child playing with cars or other similar vehicles since they involved forming generally enclosed structures such as houses, cabins, buildings and the like.

The herein invention provides a modular toy whereby a child can arrange pieces to form multi-leveled parking garagetype structures for use with toy vehicles. To accomplish this, the toy is comprised of a plurality of generally flat, rectangular-shaped solid panels. A plurality of apertures are formed about the periphery of the panel. Further within the panel an enlarged generally rectangular opening is formed therethrough. Support columns are provided which can be seated within the apertures and serve to vertically support the panels, either on top of a base surface or one on top of another. A plurality of flat ramps are additionally provided which have means for interlocking with means at edges of the rectangular openings provided in the panels, such that they can extend downwardly from the rectangular opening to a lower surface or lower panel. Thus, a child can arrange a series of panels in a stacked relationship utilizing the ramps to provide a multi-leveled garage-like structure of varying configuration. As an additional feature of the invention, the flat panel may be provided with means for receiving and maintaining in a upright position signs which would depict advertising and the like which are often found in garages and service stations to lend further reality to the modular structure. Additionally, the toy may include pieces for interlocking the panels at their peripheral apertures in a cantilever relationship, with one panel disposed immediately adjacent the other in a slightly overlapping relationship.

It is believed that the invention will be further understood from the following detailed description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred form of a panel of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned view taken generally along line 2-2 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partially sectioned side view of a portion of a panel and support columns therefore.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an assembled modular structure.

FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned side view of portions of interconnected columns.

FIG. 5a is a perspective view of the column joining element of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a partially sectioned side view of cantilevered panels.

FIG. 6a is a perspective view of a panel joining element of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a sign and support means therefor.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a ramp and an associated panel.

Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, particularly, there is seen a preferred panel 11 which is rectangularly shaped. The panel 11 has elongated side walls 13, end walls 15 and a generally flat solid plate 17 extending between the walls. The plate 17 intersects the walls 15 and 13 about midway between their upper and lower edges as can be seen in FIG. 2. Thus the walls provide a frame about the panel to give an impression of structure reality to the panels. Disposed at each corner of the plate 17 are circular apertures 21 which extend therethrough. The apertures 21 are surrounded by cylindrical sleeves 23 integral with and extending from the top surface of the plate 17. The sleeves 23 have the same internal diameter as that of the apertures 21. In the particular panel shown, an additional circular aperture 27 is provided at each end of plate 17, adjacent end wall 15 and about midway between its ends. Likewise, four circular apertures 29 are provided adjacent each side wall 13, at spaced intervals therealong. Apertures 27 and 29 have cylindrical sleeves 24 and 26 respectively surrounding them in the manner that sleeves 23 surrounds apertures 21. The foregoing apertures serve as means for receiving support columns in a manner to be further described, so that the panels can be properly elevated and placed in a modular structure. If desired the apertures and sleeves may have different internal configuration, as for example square or star shaped.

A rectangularly shaped opening 31 is provided through the plate 17. The opening 31 serves to receive a ramp 32 (FIG. 4) at one end 33 thereof in a manner that will be further explained. The ramp opening 31 has a long wall 35 along one side edge and a short wall 36 along one end edge or width. These walls 35 and 36 surround two sides of the opening 31 and serve as a guard rail for the opening. The long guard wall 36 is shortened at its end spaced from the end guard wall 35, for a purpose to be explained.

Additionally, formed on the upper surface of the plate 17 around its periphery are a plurality of upstanding retaining tabs 34. The tabs 34 are parallel to and closely spaced from the panel walls 13 and 15. The space between the retaining tabs 34 and the panel walls allow flat tabular sections 38 on plates or signs 40 or other displays to be inserted and retained therebetween to support the signs, as shown in FIG. 7. The aforedescribed panel 1 1 can be molded out of a single piece of plastic and thus be lightweight and strong with no movable parts.

Turning now to FIG. 3, there is seen two support columns 37 utilized to spatially support the panels 11 vertically above each other or a playing surface. The support columns 37 are preferably hollow cylinders, each having a constant diameter major portion 38, and one reduced diameter end portion 39. The outer diameter of the reduced diameter end portion 39 is about the same or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the panel apertures 21, 27 and 29 and their associated sleeves 23, 24 and 26. Thus, the end portion 39 may be seated for example, within a sleeve 23 and an aperture 21, as seen in FIG. 3. The inner diameter of the column at the end 45 opposite end portion 39 is about the same or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the sleeves 23, 24, 26 such that end 45 of a column 37 can be slipped over a sleeve. The columns 37 may be utilized in this manner to support one panel spaced above another. It may be desirable to provide sleeves both above and below the panel and to provide all ends of the columns with mating reduced diameter ends.

Two columns 37 may be joined together end to end as shown in FIG. 5 by utilization of a column joining element 47. The element 47 shown in FIG. 5a is a generally tubular member having an inner diameter 49 capable of receiving a reduced diameter end portion 39 of one column. The element 47 has a cylindrical portion 51 which may be seated within the end 45 of the adjoining column. A flat disc or base portion 52 of the element 47 with about the same diameter as the outside of a column portion 38 serves to provide a continuous uniform appearance to the extended column structure.

Turning now to FIG. 4, there is seen a perspective view of an example of an assembled structure 55 which can be made utilizing the panels 1 l and columns 37. The structure in FIG. 4 is shown having a base 53 which may be cardboard or plastic or the like, which preferably is not in the form of the panels 11. Alternatively, the base 53 can comprise a flooring or other surface such as a table or the like upon which the overall structure 55 will be placed. The columns 37 supporting lower most panels 11 do not necessarily engage any receptacles in the base 53, but may merely rest upon it. The structure 55 is comprised of a first panel Ila supported at one side of the structure by columns 37a with a ramp 32a extending downwardly from its ramp opening 31a. A panel llb is shown supported by column 37b at the other side of the structure and spaced from the first panel 31a a distance equivalent to a panel length. At one inner end 59 of panel 11a there are two columns 37a extending upwardly therefrom, while at the corresponding inner end 61 of panel 11b two columns 37b extend upwardly. The columns 37a and 371; support a panel 11c. Additional columns 37a" and 37b" extend upwardly from panel 11c to support a panel 1 1d thereupon. A ramp 32c extends from panel llc downwardly to panel 11a, while an additional ramp 32d extends downwardly from panel 11d to panel 110. A sign 36 is shown retained by the tabs 34. As noted above and shown in FIG. 7, the sign 40 has a tubular portion 38 which seats between tabs 34 and the side or end walls to support the sign. Additional signs may be supported on poles 69 inserted into sleeves 23. FIG. 4 represents a very simple modular structure. It can be appreciated that significantly more complex structures are possible utilizing the herein panels, particularly due to the fact that a variety of apertures are provided along the sides of the panels so that they do not necessarily have to be coaligned in the manner shown in FIG. 4, but rather can have panels offset from the panels below and/or above.

The ramps 32 utilized in the herein toy preferably are not affixed to the panel 11. This allows the child to use ramps of differing lengths, contours and sizes, or to not use any ramp at all. For example, as seen in FIG. 4 panel 11b does not have a ramp depending therefrom. Accordingly, in the illustrated toy interlocking means are provided on the ramp and the panel so that the ramp can be releasibly held in place as shown in FIG. 4.

Turning to FIG. 8, there is seen one simple means for so connecting a ramp 32 to a supporting panel 11. Ramp 32 has a flat top surface 73 and side retaining walls 75 and 77. The ramp opening 31, as described above and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, has a side guard wall 35 and end guard wall 36. The overall width of the ramp 32 measured between the outer sur faces of retaining walls 75 and 77 is preferably essentially the same as the width of opening 31 for a snug fit therebetween. Protrusions 80 and 82 are formed on the outside of the end of retaining wall 75 adjacent the upper end 81 of the ramp. Protrusion 80 has a bottom surface 82 and an angled locking surface 83 which faces away from ramp end 81. When the ramp 32 is assembled, ramp end 81 and the protrusion 80 are moved into position as indicated by arrow 84, with the locking surface 83 engaging the foreshortened end 85 of guard wall 35, and bottom surface 82 engaging and supported on the panel plate 17 adjacent to that guard wall end 85. The engagement of the locking surface 83 limits forward movement of the ramp 32, thereby retaining the ramp in position relative to the supporting panel 11. Protrusion 82 acts upon the panel 17 to prevent downward movement of the ramp. The protrusions 80 and 82 thus support the upper end 81 of the ramp 32 on an elevated supporting panel 11 and permit the other end of the ramp to depend downwardly at an angle to engage the surface of a panel or supporting surface disposed below the supporting panel. The interconnection provided by protrusions 80 and 82 and the means which they engage on the supporting panel is in effect a pivotal connection which permits the ramp 32 to depend at any desired angle. Thus, for example, with a given spacing to a lower panel, a longer ramp will proceed downward at a shallow angle as compared to the downward angle of a shorter ramp. Further, this arrangement permits accommodation of a given length ramp to different spacing between panels or a panel and a support surface. It also accommodates other configuration ramps, such as a curved ramp.

Turning to FIG. 6, there is seen means for cantilevering adjacent panels. This is accomplished by utilizing a panel joining element 87 (shown in FIG. 6a) having a hollow cylindrical body portion 89 capable of sliding over and receiving therein a sleeve 23 (or 24 or 26) mounted on a panel 110. Extending upwardly and concentrically from the cylindrical portion 89 is a reduced diameter cylindrical portion 91 for being seated into an aperture 21 and sleeve 23 of an adjacent panel 11f. The panel joining element 87 is preferably proportioned so that the frames of panels 1 1e and 1 1f will essentially meet. The upper panel 11f can thus be supported between two adjacent panels such as lle, one on each side thereof, or can be free standing. Where panel 11f is free standing, the columns 37 used to support it must be longer than the columns needed to support panel He or, alternatively, additional panel joining elements 87 can be attached to the bottoms of the normal length columns 37 to increase their height to that additionally required.

I claim:

1. A modular building toy comprising:

a plurality of generally flat panels, each panel having a plurality of receiving means formed thereon and a separate enlarged opening provided therethrough,

separate columns for releasably engaging said receiving means on said panels to horizontally support said panels, and

ramp means for cooperatively and releasably engaging one of said panels being supported in an elevated position, said ramp means engaging said panel at said enlarged opening to be supported thereby and depend downwardly therefrom.

2. The toy of claim 1 wherein:

said receiving means formed on said panels comprise a plurality of apertures formed therethrough.

3. The toy of claim 2 wherein:

a sleeve means surrounds each of said apertures.

4. The toy of claim 3 wherein:

the sleeve means extend normally from one side of said panel.

5. The toy of claim 4 wherein:

the columns have an enlarged periphery along most of the length thereof and a reduced periphery adjacent one end, said reduced portion engageable with said apertures.

6. The toy of claim 5 wherein:

the apertures and the columns are circular with the enlarged portion of said columns having an outer diameter greater than the diameter of said apertures.

7. The toy of claim 4 wherein:

the columns are generally hollow at an enlarged end thereof opposite the reduced periphery end,

said enlarged ends capable of receiving therein said sleeve means surrounding said apertures.

8. The toy of claim 1 wherein:

said enlarged opening has at least one straight side, an end of said ramp being engageable therewith.

9. The toy of claim 8 further comprising:

means for retaining said one end of said ramp at said side of the opening to depend angularly downward therefrom.

10. The toy of claim 9 wherein:

said means for retaining one end of said ramp permits it to depend at differing angles from said panel to accommodate differing spacing between the panel and an underlying surface to which the ramp is directed.

l 1. The toy of claim 10 wherein:

a vertical wall is provided adjacent said opening and,

a protrusion is formed extending from each side of said ramp adjacent an end thereof with one protrusion serving to engage said wall.

12. The toy of claim 9 wherein:

periphery whereby said plates can be retained between said tabs and said outer wall.

15. The toy of claim 1 further comprising:

means for joining the support columns to each other to form elongated support columns for said panels.

16. The toy of claim 3 further comprising:

means cooperating with apertures and sleeves for joining two panels together in an overlapping relationship.

mg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3653146 Dated 4/19/72 Inventor(s) Adolph farb It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In column 2, line 27:

FIG. 4 should be FIG. 5

In column 4, line 9:

llc should be lle Signed and sealed this 25th day of July 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK kttesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A modular building toy comprising: a plurality of generally flat panels, each panel having a plurality of receiving means formed thereon and a separate enlarged opening provided therethrough, separate columns for releasably engaging said receiving means on said panels to horizontally support said panels, and ramp means for cooperatively and releasably engaging one of said panels being supported in an elevated position, said ramp means engaging said panel at said enlarged opening to be supported thereby and depend downwardly therefrom.
 2. The toy of claim 1 wherein: said receiving means formed on said panels comprise a plurality of apertures formed therethrough.
 3. The toy of claim 2 wherein: a sleeve means surrounds each of said apertures.
 4. The toy of claim 3 wherein: the sleeve means extend normalLy from one side of said panel.
 5. The toy of claim 4 wherein: the columns have an enlarged periphery along most of the length thereof and a reduced periphery adjacent one end, said reduced portion engageable with said apertures.
 6. The toy of claim 5 wherein: the apertures and the columns are circular with the enlarged portion of said columns having an outer diameter greater than the diameter of said apertures.
 7. The toy of claim 4 wherein: the columns are generally hollow at an enlarged end thereof opposite the reduced periphery end, said enlarged ends capable of receiving therein said sleeve means surrounding said apertures.
 8. The toy of claim 1 wherein: said enlarged opening has at least one straight side, an end of said ramp being engageable therewith.
 9. The toy of claim 8 further comprising: means for retaining said one end of said ramp at said side of the opening to depend angularly downward therefrom.
 10. The toy of claim 9 wherein: said means for retaining one end of said ramp permits it to depend at differing angles from said panel to accommodate differing spacing between the panel and an underlying surface to which the ramp is directed.
 11. The toy of claim 10 wherein: a vertical wall is provided adjacent said opening and, a protrusion is formed extending from each side of said ramp adjacent an end thereof with one protrusion serving to engage said wall.
 12. The toy of claim 9 wherein: said opening is rectangular with said wall formed along at least a portion of one side of said opening extending from a corner of the opening.
 13. The toy of claim 1 wherein: the panels have means formed thereon for slidingly retaining plates normal to the panels.
 14. The toy of claim 13 wherein: each panel has an outer peripheral wall and a plurality of tabs spaced from and parallel to the wall about its periphery whereby said plates can be retained between said tabs and said outer wall.
 15. The toy of claim 1 further comprising: means for joining the support columns to each other to form elongated support columns for said panels.
 16. The toy of claim 3 further comprising: means cooperating with apertures and sleeves for joining two panels together in an overlapping relationship. 